The City of Apopka is conducting a major update to its Land Development Code (LDC). The current LDC is now out-of-date, and needs to be comprehensively updated in order to better implement the City’s Comprehensive Plan 2030 and Grow Apopka 2025 Vision Plan. The update will also ensure the City’s development regulations are internally consistent, modernized, aligned with contemporary zoning best practices, and more user-friendly.
The LDC update project is a significant undertaking, and is expected to take 14 months to complete. The project is divided into five tasks, as follows.
The Land Development Code update project encourages public input and interaction. Here are ways you can get involved:
Task 1: Project Initiation
This includes background analysis of current policies and regulations, and public outreach to identify the key goals for the project and receive input on the strengths and weaknesses of the current regulations.
Task 2: Code Assessment
In this task the information and input obtained in Task 1 is synthesized in a Code Assessment that identifies the major goals for the update project, along with recommendations on how to address and integrate these goals in the updated code. The Code Assessment concludes with a detailed outline of how the updated regulations would be structured if the recommendations in the Assessment are implemented. Public meetings will be conducted on the Code Assessment to receive public input and direction from City Council.
Task 3: Draft Land Development Code and Zoning Map
Task 3 includes the draft of the new regulations. Because the LDC is a lengthy document, drafting is divided into two installments. The revisions will be consistent with recommendations in the Code Assessment and follow the detailed outline. Public meetings will be held on the drafts to receive public input. This task also includes preparing a new zoning map.
Task 4: Test Draft Land Development Code (LDC) and Zoning Map
Next, the updated LDC will be tested to verify whether it is achieving the goals for the project. The testing stage includes a side-by-side comparison of four examples of recently-approved development with comparable hypothetical development in accordance with the draft LDC.
Task 5: Preparing Public Hearing Draft of Zoning Ordinance
After the results from testing in Task 4 and input on the draft LDC in Task 3, revisions will be made and a public hearing draft of the LDC and zoning map will be prepared. These materials will be reviewed during the public hearing process. The public hearing draft of the LDC and zoning map is the final, comprehensive set of draft regulations that will be considered for adoption.
The Land Development Code Update is on the agenda for the January 16 City Council meeting. The agenda will be posted on the City of Apopka website.
The Apopka Land Development Code Update project will be an agenda item on the next City Council meeting: March 6, 2019 at 1:30 PM
NEW Apopka LDC Public Hearing Draft Posted March 1, 2019
NEW Apopka LDC Amendments since February 13th Posted March 1, 2019
Earlier drafts and guiding documents are available on the Work Products page.